Mole on labia

[Dog20]

I noticed a new mole on my labia a few months ago but ignored it, thinking it was just a freckle. However the edges are uneven and it seems to be making the surrounding skin pucker slightly. It's not that big, I'd say about 6 to 7mm across at the widest point, and doesn't feel any different on the surface. It does itch sometimes but not always, and it's not sore. Not sure whether to bother the doctor with this, which I know is highly unlikely to be anything untoward. Anyone had experience of anything similar?

I have one - When I last had a smear the gp said she wasn’t concerned as it wouldn’t see much sun!

Always go and get a change checked out.

Go get it checked wont do any harm, better to be safe. At the very least will give u some prace of mind

Any new mole needs to be checked - you will not be wasting the doctor’s time. Hope you can get some reassurance.

You do need to get it checked.
I had a mole which did turn out to be 'something'

Definitely get it checked. I read a post on here earlier written by someone who had melanoma on her labia. New moles always need checking.

Thanks for your replies. I've booked a GP appointment for next month (the earliest I could get!) to get it checked. Sorry to hear about your mole oldandwornout, how are you doing?

Why so late? Call again and tell the receptionist a mole on your body has changed and you want to get it checked sooner because the skin around it is becoming weird and you want to rule out melanoma.

agree with pp, usually when you mention it's a mole that has changes that fit the worrying criteria, they will fit you in as an urgent appointment.

Sorry, only just seen your question.
I'm fine now, but I had to have quite a large chunk of my labia removed due to V.I.N, which is pre cancerous cells.
I could barely walk for weeks!
I'm a bit lopsided now.

I've got one on my labia as well OP, it's an awkward place to keep tabs on isn't it! I keep meaning to go and speak to the doctor about it as it often gets nicked when 'tidying up' down there and I'd prefer to get it removed really so you've reminded me to go!

Get it checked.

Just for the record, my lesion was totally flat, and was more like the area had been bleached of colour.
Instead of pink, it was just an innocuous looking grey patch.
So, anything unusual, please get it checked.

@Dog20 I’m glad you’ve made an appointment but agree with others that it might be worth seeing if you can get an earlier appointment.

Malignant melanoma on the vulva are very, very rare, but do happen, and I’m shocked that someone else’s GP said they weren’t worried as it didn’t get sunburned !

As an object lesson, I put off going to a GP for months with a lesion on my vulva, telling myself “well at least it can’t be a melanoma because I’ve never been sunburnt there!” Turns out it was. I had half my vulva removed in January but I was really, really lucky and it hadn’t spread.

Please don’t freak out over this - it’s much more likely to be something innocuous. But if I can raise awareness and stop someone else going through this, I thought it was worth me posting this.

There is this huge misunderstanding about the causation of melanoma. People who spend a lot of time in the sun such as lifeguards, builders, gardeners, athletes have very very low rate of melanoma but do get basal cell carcinoma and people who don’t go out in the sun get melanoma and often on body part not exposed to sunshine such as in between the toes, sole of feet and so on. The skin is the largest organ in the body and so more prone to cell error when replicating or affected by mutations. These mutation however are also linked to alcohol, anti oxidants on diet and other lifestyle behaviour. Vitamin D from the sun is protective against melanoma. Vitamin D in a pill raises the amount in blood test but seems to lack protective effect on several health factors.
So as PP sun exposure and location of the melanoma are not linked. A blistering sunburn is bad, sitting 15 min until a very light pink is good.

Thanks Lilies that's really helpful!

Sounds like a wart.

A couple of articles worth reading.
A recent article www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/health-and-wellness/here-comes-the-sun-defending-our-summer-rays-20181120-p50h2j.html and a far older one from 2008 www.bmj.com/bmj/section-pdf/186530?path=/bmj/337/7663/Head_to_Head.full.pdf

The melanoma paradox is very complex.

Hi thanks for all your replies. I've now seen the GP and she is happy that the mole is normal. Apparently women of my age (46) often have changes to moles and skin etc. She has referred me to a dermatologist as a routine referral, mainly because my teenage daughter has a melanoma.

Hi Dog20, that’s great to hear

Thanks for the update